Rockville Centre, N.Y. (Nov. 1, 2017) – After being ranked third in the East Region in the first of the Division II NCAA Volleyball Regional Rankings, the first-place Molloy volleyball team officially clinched their spot in the East Coast Conference Championship with a three-set victory over the University of Bridgeport. The Lions improved to 10-2 in conference and sit at 21-5 on the season.

With a game-high 12 kills, redshirt sophomore Carly Banks (Camas, Wash.) became the program's new single-season kill leader, totaling 365 on the season to date.

Set-By-Set
Molloy25, UB 22
Molloy 25, UB 22
Molloy 25, UB 13

For much of the first two sets, the two teams parried back and forth. In set one, the maroon and white pulled in front, 21-19, on a four-point rally. A kill from sophomore Shannon Wren (Lynbrook, N.Y.) ultimately put the set away in favor of the home team, 25-22.

In the second set, the Lions once again put together a five-point rally, featuring kills from Banks and freshman Kacey Affrunti (Levittown, N.Y.). The Purple Knights, however, rallied for four-straight points of their own later, setting the stage for the game to be tied for the seventh time that set. Kills from Affrunti and sophomore Hailey Wehr (Wading River, N.Y.) paired with blocks from Wehr and freshman Emily Meyer (Seaford, N.Y.) set the stage for a 22-20 advantage for Molloy before the Lions took the set, 25-22.

The maroon and white pulled ahead in the final set to a ten-point lead, 19-9. Although the team allowed the visitors four points, Molloy sealed the set handedly, 25-13, to take the 3-0 win over Bridgeport.

Sophomore Sophia Smith (Georgetown, Texas) tallied 36 assists while adding three service aces. Senior Dakota O'Neill (Long Beach, N.Y.) totaled 32 digs, two assists, and one ace.

Molloy will have a nine day break from competition before heading into the final weekend of the regular season. The team will face Roberts Wesleyan College at 12:00 p.m. in Quealy Gymnasium on Saturday, Nov. 11.